Tottenham manager Martin Jol has just completed a successful season at White Hart Lane and can look forward to the future with confidence. Spurs held on to fifth spot in the Premiership for the second successive season and went out of the UEFA Cup at the hands of the eventual winners, Sevilla.

Next season, Jol will look to bolster his playing squad in specific areas in which we have been lacking for some time. There is no denying that Spurs are one of the up-and-coming teams in the Premiership, close on the heels of the supposed Big Four - Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.

This season we squandered many opportunities as a result of a poor overall defence, or maybe the word is inconsistent. Sometimes we play as though we could beat anybody, and others we throw a much-needed game down the drain. The left-back void is possibly our main concern for next season if we are to have any chance of gate-crashing the Top Four party. Likely suitors to this position are possibly either Wigan's Leighton Baines or Southampton's wonder-kid Gareth Bale. Either would provide us with some flare and creativity in the defence areas and provide our midfielders with attacking options.

Spurs have conceded 54 goals, the highest among the top 10 in the Premiership. If we are to play consistent, winning football every week then this number must be lowered. Spurs do have some bright young defenders in Michael Dawson and Ledley King. Without these two, the number of goals conceded would have been much higher. With experience, preferably in Europe, I reckon that there is a lot more to come from these two young English talents.

There is also news this week of a yet un-named American organisation or individual planning a £250 million takeover of the club. The interest of this individual or company has been raised with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and the board of executives. I'm not too sure about this move myself, yet it will probably aid Spurs in their fight to achieve regular Champions League football. If this takeover does go ahead it may result in a switch of  venue or further ground development at the Lane. All may be revealed in coming weeks.

According to the Bulgarian media, Dimitar Berbatov has reportedly signed a new contract with Spurs that will keep him at the club until 2013. There has also been many rumours linking Berbatov with many top flight European clubs, one of which is Manchester United. Berbatov has had a successful first season in Premiership football after last summer's bargain move from German outfit Bayer Leverkusen and there is little doubt that he is a firm favourite with Spurs fans.

Spurs are also reportedly ready to make a bid for Blackburn winger Morten Gamst Pederson, who has impressed recently and drawn attention apparently from Spurs. Jol may be ready to launch another bid for the left sided midfielder despite being previously rejected by Blackburn.

What can Spurs do to step up the pressure on the Man United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal axis? Post your comments below or submit an article to Sportingo.